White professor at GWU lied about being Black

[Stevicus]

White professor at George Washington University admits she lied about being Black

A White history professor at George Washington University on Thursday admitted to falsely claiming a Black identity. Jessica A. Krug said in a Medium post that she is actually White and Jewish, but that she has "built her life on a violent anti-Black lie."

Krug wrote that, throughout her adult life, she claimed to have North African, African American and Caribbean heritage. She called her actions the "very epitome of violence, of thievery and appropriation, of the myriad ways in which non-Black people continue to use and abuse Black identities and cultures."

"For the better part of my adult life, every move I've made, every relationship I've formed, has been rooted in the napalm toxic soil of lies," wrote Krug, who is originally from the suburbs of Kansas City.

According to her university bio, Krug is an expert in Africa, Latin America, African American history, early modern world history, imperialism and colonialism. Her courses include, "Caribbean on the Move: The Politics of Immigration and Popular Dance in the Caribbean and Its Diasporas" and "Africa and the African Diaspora: (Trans)Nationalisms and the Politics of Modernity."

She is a finalist for both the Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass book prizes.

If someone told me they were black, I would believe them, since I wouldn't have any reason to think that they're lying about something like that. (I'm reminded of Sean Connery's line in The Untouchables: "Who would claim to be that, if they weren't?")

Is this an example of cultural appropriation, or is it just simple delusion?

Krug called her appropriation of Black identity "unethical, immoral, anti-Black, colonial" and said her lies mean "that every step I've taken has gaslighted those whom I love."

She does appear to regret what she has done and has apologized for it.

She wrote that "there are no words in any language to express the depth of my remorse" and said that she "would never ask for nor expect forgiveness."

A GWU spokesperson told CBS News that the school is working on a response.

 

[columbus]

If someone told me they were black, I would believe them, since I wouldn't have any reason to think that they're lying about something like that. (I'm reminded of Sean Connery's line in The Untouchables: "Who would claim to be that, if they weren't?")

It does rather say something about how far US society has come during my lifetime.
White people are now taking advantage of black privilege by "passing".
Tom

 

[BSM1]

Evidently this is a prerequisite for being the 2020 Democrat VP nominee...just sayin'.

 

[Quintessence]

Still waiting for the day when we stop talking about race. I do not understand the obsession with it. People are people. Treat people as people - each with their own unique stories and backgrounds. This shouldn't be hard.

 

[Harel13]

Is this an example of cultural appropriation, or is it just simple delusion?

Personally, upon hearing she was actually Jewish, I figured she was embarrassed at being Jewish. Why choose black specifically? Perhaps that's just the crowd she fell in with at some point in her life.

 

[columbus]

Still waiting for the day when we stop talking about race. I do not understand the obsession with it. People are people. Treat people as people - each with their own unique stories and backgrounds. This shouldn't be hard.

Tell BLM that, see how far it gets you.
Tom

 

[Left Coast]

White professor at George Washington University admits she lied about being Black

If someone told me they were black, I would believe them, since I wouldn't have any reason to think that they're lying about something like that. (I'm reminded of Sean Connery's line in The Untouchables: "Who would claim to be that, if they weren't?")

Is this an example of cultural appropriation, or is it just simple delusion?



She does appear to regret what she has done and has apologized for it.

Like Rachel Dolezal, this seems to have some correlation with a history of child abuse. Something about being a victim and feeling the need to identify with a heavily victimized group, I suppose?

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

This is just dumb. Who cares what she is in this vein? It's not like any of us can choose what we are in any case.

Of course... the fact that she is a liar IS something she could have decided not to be. Which is where the focus should lay here. I don't give one single damn that she's white/black/jewish/who-cares.

She also seems a bit on the dramatic side. Calling the lie a "violent anti-Black lie" and saying crap like "napalm toxic soil of lies." If anything, I would hold against her the idea that she is weenie enough to be overly dramatic like this more than I would the idea of "race-appropriation."

 

[exchemist]

This is just dumb. Who cares what she is in this vein? It's not like any of us can choose what we are in any case.

Of course... the fact that she is a liar IS something she could have decided not to be. Which is where the focus should lay here. I don't give one single damn that she's white/black/jewish/who-cares.

She also seems a bit on the dramatic side. Calling the lie a "violent anti-Black lie" and saying crap like "napalm toxic soil of lies." If anything, I would hold against her the idea that she is weenie enough to be overly dramatic like this more than I would the idea of "race-appropriation."

Absolutely. What a drama queen.

 

[BSM1]

Personally, upon hearing she was actually Jewish, I figured she was embarrassed at being Jewish. Why choose black specifically? Perhaps that's just the crowd she fell in with at some point in her life.

Yeah, she could have really stirred the pot and claimed she was Irish...

 

[Onoma]

"For the better part of my adult life, every move I've made, every relationship I've formed, has been rooted in the napalm toxic soil of lies," wrote Krug, who is originally from the suburbs of Kansas City "

Says it all right there

 

[rosends]

Like Rachel Dolezal, this seems to have some correlation with a history of child abuse. Something about being a victim and feeling the need to identify with a heavily victimized group, I suppose?

this would explain why should wouldn't want to be identified as Jewish...Jews aren't victimized enough.

 

[Nakosis]

White professor at George Washington University admits she lied about being Black

If someone told me they were black, I would believe them, since I wouldn't have any reason to think that they're lying about something like that. (I'm reminded of Sean Connery's line in The Untouchables: "Who would claim to be that, if they weren't?")

Is this an example of cultural appropriation, or is it just simple delusion?



She does appear to regret what she has done and has apologized for it.

There are benefits to being non-White in society these days. People do treat you differently, not really in an oppressive way, just more supportive. My son is bi-racial, not that I ever see him that way but other people do. So he tells me he is White when it benefits him and non-White when it doesn't. I don't think most folks intend to treat people differently based on their "race". I suspect this happens more on a subconscious level.

 

[columbus]

"For the better part of my adult life, every move I've made, every relationship I've formed, has been rooted in the napalm toxic soil of lies," wrote Krug, who is originally from the suburbs of Kansas City "

Says it all right there

No it doesn't.
Not even close.
Tom

 

[metis]

My first roommate in my first year of undergraduate work was black but pawned himself off as being white, and he was largely able to get away with it because he was very light skinned.

Did this bother me? No.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Like Rachel Dolezal, this seems to have some correlation with a history of child abuse. Something about being a victim and feeling the need to identify with a heavily victimized group, I suppose?

She's Jewish. She already has that without a lie.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

There are benefits to being non-White in society these days. People do treat you differently, not really in an oppressive way, just more supportive. My son is bi-racial, not that I ever see him that way but other people do. So he tells me he is White when it benefits him and non-White when it doesn't. I don't think most folks intend to treat people differently based on their "race". I suspect this happens more on a subconscious level.

They treat people differently all right. Try going to Indiana. People are racist enough there it's even acceptable to by many to disown a half-black grandchild and call them a "zebra." And, of course, sundown town mentalities and "there goes the neighborhood" are still things. As is treating Latinos and Hispanics like grunt work who are dirty and absolutely wrong for living together as many of them do. Women clinch their purses, men size non-white men, many are afraid of young black men, Hispanics derrided for not speaking English (despite America having always been multilingual and lacking an official language). And TONS of white people it's ok to use the word ****** regardless the context. Or they ignore the history of it and refuse to accept there are very few instances when white people saying isn't offensive and they refuse to hear that even many black people do not like black people using the word. Instear its "what about me? Why can't I do it?" I can go on for days about incidents of racism Ive noticed, and I'm white. If I can spot and see that much, it's nore than enoughbto let me know it will effect how they treat people who arent white, and its not in a good way.

 

[Left Coast]

this would explain why should wouldn't want to be identified as Jewish...Jews aren't victimized enough.

She's Jewish. She already has that without a lie.

I never said the behavior was rational.

 

[Nakosis]

They treat people differently all right. Try going to Indiana. People are racist enough there it's even acceptable to by many to disown a half-black grandchild and call them a "zebra." And, of course, sundown town mentalities and "there goes the neighborhood" are still things. As is treating Latinos and Hispanics like grunt work who are dirty and absolutely wrong for living together as many of them do. Women clinch their purses, men size non-white men, many are afraid of young black men, Hispanics derrided for not speaking English (despite America having always been multilingual and lacking an official language). And TONS of white people it's ok to use the word ****** regardless the context. Or they ignore the history of it and refuse to accept there are very few instances when white people saying isn't offensive and they refuse to hear that even many black people do not like black people using the word. Instear its "what about me? Why can't I do it?" I can go on for days about incidents of racism Ive noticed, and I'm white. If I can spot and see that much, it's nore than enoughbto let me know it will effect how they treat people who arent white, and its not in a good way.

Ok, I don't really know anybody like that so I'll have to take your word for it.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

There are benefits to being non-White in society these days.

What benefits? I'm mixed and have yet to see any of these benefits in my 30 years of life.